Changed recently
- Does an open work permit need an LMIA is now No LMIA needed; open permits are not job-specific. Source
- Free government-funded English and French classes is now LINC and CLIC, free for adult permanent residents and protected persons. Source
- Recruitment fees charged to temporary foreign workers is now Prohibited; the employer must ensure no recruiter charges the worker. Source
- Hours during scheduled school breaks is now No weekly limit during a regularly scheduled break between academic sessions. Source
- What happens if a student works over the limit is now It is unauthorized work; a later work permit must be refused. Source
- Who may charge for immigration advice is now Only lawyers, Quebec notaries and licensed consultants may charge. Source
| Fact | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does an open work permit need an LMIA | No LMIA needed; open permits are not job-specific | 2026-09-08 | IRCC Help Centre, What is an open work permit? ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Open work permit for vulnerable workers, who it is for | Workers on an employer-specific permit facing or at risk of abuse | 2019-06-04 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 207.1 ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| The two kinds of work permit in Canada | Employer-specific (one named employer) or open (almost any employer) | 2026-09-08 | IRCC Help Centre, Does my work permit allow me to work for any employer in Canada? ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Provincial nominee streams for trades and care work | Provinces run their own streams; a nomination adds 600 CRS points | 2015-01-01 | Canada Gazette, Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Can a worker be charged the LMIA fee | No; the fee cannot be paid by or recovered from the worker | 2022-09-26 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 209.3 (employer conditions) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Recruitment fees charged to temporary foreign workers | Prohibited; the employer must ensure no recruiter charges the worker | 2022-09-26 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 209.2 ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Free IRCC-funded settlement services near you | Free search by postal code, address, city or province | 2026-09-07 | IRCC, Find free newcomer services near you ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Free government-funded English and French classes | LINC and CLIC, free for adult permanent residents and protected persons | 2026-09-08 | IRCC Help Centre, Who is eligible to take government-funded language classes? ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Off-campus work hours for eligible international students | 24 hours per week while classes are in session | 2024-11-08 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 186(v) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| What happens if a student works over the limit | It is unauthorized work; a later work permit must be refused | 2024-11-08 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 200(3) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Changing employer on an employer-specific permit | Permit names one employer; a new employer needs a new permit | 2002-06-28 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s. 30(1) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Checking whether a consultant is licensed | Free public register search by name, licence number or firm | 2026-09-07 | College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, Public Register ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Hours during scheduled school breaks | No weekly limit during a regularly scheduled break between academic sessions | 2024-11-08 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 186(v) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Right of an agricultural worker to change employers | New employer needs a new work permit; abuse allows an open permit | 2019-06-04 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 207.1 (workers experiencing abuse) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| What an employer pays for an LMIA | 1000 CAD per position | 2014-06-20 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 315.2 ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| What counts as abuse for this permit | Physical, sexual, psychological, financial abuse, or reprisal | 2019-06-04 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 196.2 ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Who may charge for immigration advice | Only lawyers, Quebec notaries and licensed consultants may charge | 2011-06-30 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s. 91 ✓ 2026-09-09 |
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How this page is checked
Before an approved update, the checker re-opens each source and looks for the exact claim. A ✓ shows the date that last succeeded. Archived copies may support explicitly historical claims, never current applicability.
iamonmybreak publishes general information for working people. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and it is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. Rules differ by province and country and change over time; the date at the top of this piece is when we last checked. For your specific case, especially anything involving money you are owed, contact a free community legal clinic or your provincial or state labour standards office.